As a seasoned film enthusiast with a soft spot for the suave and sophisticated world of James Bond, I find myself deeply troubled by the current state of the venerable 007 franchise. Having grown up watching the exploits of Agent 007 on the silver screen, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I read about the debacle unfolding between Amazon and MGM/Broccoli & Wilson.
It seems there’s disagreement among Amazon, MGM, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael G. Wilson about the direction of the James Bond franchise. The latest report suggests that no progress has been made on the next Bond film since No Time to Die was released three years ago. There is currently no script, director, or actor announced to replace Daniel Craig as Bond. This disagreement between executives appears to be strained and unproductive.
The Wall Street Journal published a harsh critique on the current situation of the James Bond franchise, mentioning that allegedly, Broccoli was heard deriding Amazon’s team as “unintelligent individuals” and claiming they have held the Bond franchise captive. Additionally, it is reported that Broccoli has been displeased with Amazon executives like Jennifer Salke for referring to Bond as merely “content,” a perspective which Broccoli regards as disrespectful towards the franchise’s significant cinematic legacy.
2021 saw a lot of surprise when Amazon purchased MGM Studios; with the deal, Amazon obtained some beloved series, but Bond was undeniably the most enticing catch. Yet, following the release of ‘No Time to Die’ that year, anticipation for the new Bond era (under Amazon) seemed to fade away, leaving a sense that the franchise was gradually slipping into anonymity – a fate many didn’t expect it would ever encounter.
In today’s media-rich landscape, there’s ongoing discussion about whether James Bond films continue to hold the same allure as they once did. Opinions vary on who would be suitable to play the role, with some arguing that the original traits and formula should remain unchanged, having been a lasting symbol for over half a century. Others believe that the character needs a refresh to fit contemporary preferences.
Back in the first half of this year, whispers were circulating throughout the UK about Aaron Taylor-Johnson potentially stepping into the iconic role of James Bond, following rumors linking him to projects like Kraven the Hunter, Bullet Train, and Nosferatu. However, since then, the actor himself has remained tight-lipped on the matter, and the producers have stayed just as silent. Now, fresh reports suggest that while Taylor-Johnson may indeed be tapped for Bond duty, there appears to be no film currently in development for him to star in.
Bond Being a Bad Fit For Amazon Is Hardly Surprising
Amazon has been making strides in the production industry by purchasing established intellectual properties and transforming them into hit TV shows and movies. In the past year, Prime Video has seen success with remakes like “Road House”, the second season of its “Lord of the Rings” prequel series “The Rings of Power”, an adaptation from the popular video game “Fallout”, a mature animated series based on Batman (“Caped Crusader”), a larger second season for hit show “Reacher”, a modern take on “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, and a TV reboot of “Alex Cross” – to name just a few examples.
Each of the mentioned projects offers either rich backstory to draw upon or, as in the cases of ‘Road House’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’, a unique foundation that can be reshaped creatively. This approach has been successful for Amazon, but what seems to elude them is consistently adhering to established formulas for long-standing IPs, which might have been Broccoli’s hope or expectation from the partnership. The Bond franchise belongs to a family (the Broccolis and Wilsons are half-siblings), and this family is known for being very guarded when it comes to the James Bond brand.
Can James Bond Work As a Shared Universe?
007’s world being expanded and elongated into a universe similar to Marvel or DC has never been the intention of Broccoli. Unlike Star Wars, she’s consistently emphasized that James Bond films should not lose their allure as grand, cinematic spectacles.
There’s a certain amount of logic to that view: even though there are enough supporting characters and organizations in Bond lore for spinoffs, once you take Bond out of it they arguably slide into being generic espionage/action content, of little distinction. Pitches like a ‘Goldfinger origin story,’ or a spinoff about 006 (Goldeneye), American spies like Halle Berry’s Jinx (Die Another Day), or allies like Bond’s gadget-man Q in their formative years, sound flimsy, if not DOA. Young Bond has been done before, and any attempts to do a “daughter of Bond” film or series (based on the bittersweet ending of No Time to Die) also fell misguided.
It’s quite intriguing to learn that Amazon might be pondering over a Bond-style shared universe for their Prime Video platform. They’ve already poured significant resources into the espionage-action series, Citadel, produced by The Russo Brothers’ AGBO studio, which is known for hits like Avengers: Endgame. Citadel features spinoffs set in various countries, aiming to attract large audiences not just in the US and UK, but also in markets such as India and Italy. However, the mixed success of the entire Citadel franchise suggests caution, and it remains uncertain if replacing this new intellectual property with a well-known brand like “Bond” will yield better results.
The James Bond film franchise is currently lingering in development.
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2024-12-21 01:09